The Purpose of the Cross in You (Part #1)

September 29, 2013
"The Purpose of the Cross in You" (Part #1)
1 Corinthians 9
Scott Howard

We can get so caught up in the daily routine of living that we actually miss the ultimate reason for life.  We don't want to miss the whole point.

• Are you a follower of Jesus?  Do you recognize yourself as a sinner before a Holy God who is merciful and gracious enough to send an atonement for your sins through the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior?
• If you are a follower of Jesus, you have been saved for a purpose:  To enjoy and worship God and to spread the Gospel from where you live to the ends of the Earth.

Three Exhortations for Followers of Jesus Christ:  (we'll look at one today and more next week)

1.  Let's Relinquish our rights for the sake of the Gospel.

We must think of what is best for the sake of the Gospel.  If it comes to us having to forego a certain right to which we believe we have in order to bring others to know Christ, we should let go of that right.  Within reason and the bounds of what is right according to God's will.  For example, we have the right to spend our time the way we want, but if it means an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone while taking time to sit and talk with that person, we should give up that right to go spend that time a different way.

You have rights in Hickory, NC, in the USA, and in the World around you

• Right to Life, Friends, Marriage, Family, Safety, Security, Health, and Happiness.
• Right to Eat, Drink, Watch, Wear, Read, Study, Listen to, and say whatever you want.
• Right to Organize your schedule, Spend your time, Choose your career, Earn your money, Use your money, Take your vacation, and Plan your retirement.
• Right to do what you want to do, go where you want to go, and live how you want to live.

The Cross compels you to surrender your rights for the sake of the Gospel in Hickory, and in the World around you.  Challenge:  Live radically different in your community. 

Examples: 

1. Sacrifice your time and money to foster or adopt a child
2. Sacrifice some savings and retirement planning to give to the church or missions for the sake of extending the Gospel
3. Sacrifice your time to volunteer or help others
4. Sacrifice your safety and security to go into the mission field to spread the Gospel
5. Sacrifice some time to take a friend or family member to dinner and love them with the love of
   Christ and share the Gospel with them.

1 Corinthians 9:12 "But we did not use this right.  On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the Gospel of Christ."

Colossians 1:15-16 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created: things in Heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and FOR Him."
  
We are not our own, we are His, and our purpose is to live for His Glory.

Colossians 3:1-4  "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in gory."

If our purpose is to please God, what would please God the most?  Leading others to follow Christ and to have the salvation we ourselves are so grateful for.  Sometimes it's not easy, and it takes initiative on our part.

Luke 14:23  "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full."